Reports of Qatar quitting GCC false

Unjust siege on Qatar creates doubt over GCC’s relevance

The siege will complete three years on June 5

Qatar hopes GCC will again be a platform of cooperation

Qatar has refuted the reports that it is planning to quit the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has termed such claims as incorrect and baseless.

The denial of reports has come amid the unjust blockade imposed by siege countries on Qatar is about to complete three years next week on June 5.

“Reports claiming that Qatar is considering leaving the GCC are wholly incorrect and baseless,” Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Lolwah bint Rashid Mohammed Al Khater told AFP on Thursday.

“Such rumours must have originated from people’s despair and disappointment with a fractured GCC, which used to be a source of hope and aspiration for the people of the six member countries,” she said.

On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed all relations with Qatar imposing unjust land, sea and air blockade on the country. Since then, questions have been raised about the unity of the GCC, which was found in 1981. H E Lolwah bint Rashid Mohammed Al Khater said that the unjust blockade on Qatar has created doubts about the relevance of GCC among the people in this region.

“As we are reaching the third year of the illegal blockade on Qatar by Saudi, UAE and Bahrain, there is no wonder why the people of the GCC are doubting and questioning the GCC as an institution. Qatar hopes the GCC will once again be a platform of cooperation and coordination. An effective GCC is needed now more than ever, given the challenges facing our region,” said H E Lolwah bint Rashid Mohammed Al Khater.

Along with Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain are other members of the GCC, which oversees regional economic and military coordination.

“Qataris are asking themselves what benefit a membership in the GCC still has, as the organisation has been usurped by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to coerce the smaller states into followership, while no initiative is being made to bring the Gulf Crisis to an end,” King’s College Assistant Professor Andreas Krieg, told AFP.

Source: The Peninsula